Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it is your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances as well as chimneys and flues are inspected annually. The law also requires that you give a copy of the check to your tenants.
If the engineer considers that any appliance or installation is immediate danger they will ask permission to disconnect the supply of gas and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A landlord's gas safety certificate is an official document that proves that all gas appliances and flues in the rented property have been inspected by an accredited gas engineer. Landlords are required to arrange an annual gas inspection for each rental property that they own at least once per year. The inspection is conducted by an Gas Safe registered engineer and checks to ensure that all pipework, appliances, and flues are in good working condition and in compliance with the safety regulations.
Landlords are also required by law to give their tenants a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) at the end of each year's gas safety inspection and test. This should be provided to current tenants within 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to any new tenants at the beginning of their lease.
CP12 is an abbreviation of the CORGI Proforma 12 which was used by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) before it was replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form shows the date of the last gas inspection and tests as well as the results of these tests, any issues or actions that need to be addressed, and the name of the person who performed the inspection.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas appliance and the engineer will give advice on what needs to be done to ensure its safe use. If an appliance is deemed immediately dangerous or abnormally lethal, the gas supply must be disconnected until the problem is resolved.
If a tenant is unwilling to allow access for gas security checks to be conducted, it is an offence that is criminal. If needed, a landlord can ask the courts for a court order to prohibit the tenant from preventing the gas safety checks. However, it is more common to send a letter which explains why the checks are important and what's required. This can encourage a reluctant tenant to let access in, and if not, the landlord might have to think about starting the eviction process.
How often do I need to renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords and letting agencies are required by law to conduct an annual gas safety inspection on all flues and gas appliances that are supplied to tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe for use and there are no gas leaks in the property. This is a crucial responsibility for landlords and they should be sure to are inspected for gas by a qualified gas engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the Gas Safety Check Record, is a legal document that affirms that an engineer has completed a gas inspection in the last 12 months. It is given to the landlord, and should be given to the tenant to prove the security of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and has to be renewed every year.
If a landlord is unable to provide their tenants with a Gas Safety Certificate then they are breaking the law and could be penalized by the local authority. It is therefore essential for landlords to have their Gas Safety checks carried out at a timely basis and keep a copy of the documents in the event that a tenant asks for it.
It's also an excellent idea for landlords to install inspection hatches on all gas appliances, to allow engineers to easily access the hatches for annual inspections. The engineer will label the appliance as 'at-risk' and may suggest that the tenant refrain from using the boiler until the inspection hatch has been installed.
Landlords should also make sure that they provide their tenants with a minimum of 24 hours notice prior to when they visit the property to perform Gas Safety checks. This allows tenants to prepare and request permission if needed. If a tenant does not allow entry to the engineer the landlord must explain the reason why it is necessary and what will happen if the tenant refused. If the tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry, the landlord may consider evicting the tenant under section 21 of 1988 Housing Act.
What happens if you don't have a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal responsibility of landlords to ensure that their property has an approved gas safety certificate before tenants move in. Infractions to the law can lead to the landlord being charged or fined severely. The regulations stipulate that landlords are required to provide copies of the gas safety certificates to their tenants upon request.
on the main page must have an Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property for an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection, a Gas Safe registered engineer will note any problems that could be a threat to tenants. They will issue an CP12 gas safety document, which is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is a crucial document that every tenant should get a hold of and keep. It includes information about the gas installations in a rental property, as well as details about when they were last checked and the expiry dates. It can help tenants identify issues with their appliances and installations and ensure that they know how contact an Gas Safe Engineer to have them tested.
Landlords are required to provide their current and new tenants with a gas safety check report within 28 days of the date that the engineer visits their property. They must also provide a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day their tenancy begins. Landlords who fail to provide a copy of the gas safety certificate can be prosecuted under the rules and could face unlimited fines or six months imprisonment.
In the same way, landlords must make sure that their properties are equipped with carbon monoxide alarms. They can also arrange that they be tested every month. The landlord is accountable for repairing any alarm that doesn't work. The rules around this are applicable to council, private, and housing association landlords and also to licensable houses of multiple Occupation (HMOs).
In June 2017, the High Court decided that it was unlawful for landlords to issue Section 21 notices if they did not provide their tenants with an official gas safety certificate. The decision was based on the law that requires landlords with assured shorthold tenancies to obtain a gas safety certificate for their property before tenants move in.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords are legally responsible to ensure that gas appliances, flues and pipework in the properties they rent out are safe. This is covered by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To be in compliance with these regulations, landlords must organize annual gas inspections of all gas appliances and flues that they install within the property. This is known as a CP12 gas safety certificate and it must be filled out by a licensed Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.
It is also recommended for landlords to consider having the boiler service completed in conjunction with the CP12 inspection, as it will help ensure that all the gas appliances are working properly and safely. Landlords can typically obtain a combined CP12 and boiler service for an affordable price from a professional gas engineer who can check the seals on boiler burners, check the flue system for leaks and cracks as well as clean the burner and heat exchanger and carry out general maintenance.
The CP12 is sometimes known as "landlord's gas safety certificate" but it is actually called the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It lists the results of all safety inspections and details of any actions or issues that need to be addressed. Landlords are required to provide their tenants a CP12 document not later than 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.
It is essential that landlords or letting agents only allow Gas Safe registered engineers to visit the property to conduct safety checks and for maintenance. It's a good idea inform tenants about the importance of allowing access and explaining that the gas engineer will protect them from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant is reluctant to permit access it's the landlord's or letting agent's duty to clarify the legal obligations in writing, and follow by visiting the property to force entry if needed.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants prior to they are allowed to enter the property. This will ensure that the engineer is qualified to work on your home's systems and therefore be trusted to carry out the safety check. Be aware that a gas engineer can legally shut off defective equipment or shut off the gas supply in case of need.